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    Home / Recipes / How Tos

    Chocolate Sauce Recipe (3-Ingredients)

    Feb 2, 2019 · Updated: May 9, 2023 by Dee Dine · Affliate links disclosure.

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    jar of chocolate sauce with a spoon and a measuring cup

    A healthy easy chocolate sauce recipe that you can make with 3 ingredients in 3 minutes. It is refined sugar free, and can be drizzled on ice cream or brownies, and used as a dip for fruit and cookies.
    chocolate sauce dripping down a jar of vanilla ice cream

    I'm always being asked for my chocolate sauce recipe, so I thought I'd write it down and share it. It's spectacularly easy, is just three ingredients and unlike store bought, my chocolate sauce is free of corn syrup, unwelcome additives and dairy. Add a few spoonfuls to homemade oat milk for the most deliciously rich chocolate milk.

    Along with my other dessert sauce recipes such as my magic shell, I drizzle this easy homemade chocolate syrup on every thing from my chocolate blender ice cream, to my chocolate swiss roll, and even use it as a filling for my copycat milano cookies.

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    Fast and easy. What do we need to make this chocolate sauce recipe? All you need is milk, maple syrup and cocoa powder. And it will take you less than 3 minutes from start to finish.

    Easy to customize. If you use a thick creamy milk, such as full fat coconut milk or heavy creamy, you can thicken this sauce to the level of a hot fudge sauce. Or keep it thinner and lower in calorie with a milk with a lower percentage of fat. Extracts are easy to add to change the flavor, such as orange extract for chocolate orange sauce or mint extract for chocolate mint sauce.

    Nutritious for a chocolate sauce. This sauce is made with healthier substitutes. The milk can be plant-based if you use full-fat coconut milk, or use heavy cream if your sauce does not have to be vegan or dairy-free. And the maple syrup is refined-sugar-free. Unsweetened cocoa powder has many nutritious benefits including disease-fighting antioxidants.

    Ingredients

    What do we need to make chocolate sauce? Just milk, cocoa powder, and maple syrup. Here's more detail about each:

    Milk. The higher the fat, the thicker the sauce. Use canned full-fat coconut milk or heavy cream for the thickest sauce. And oat milk or cashew milk for a runnier sauce.

    Cocoa Powder. Use unsweetened. Dutch cocoa will make the sauce darker and milder. Use a high quality cocoa for better flavor.

    Maple syrup. Needed for to sweeten. Add half the amount, stir and taste and decide if you need to add the second half.

    overhead of ingredients for chocolate sauce

    Steps to Make

    Step 1: Mix all ingredients in a bowl and stir. If you want to reduce the sugar, hold back half the maple syrup and taste-test, adding in the rest only if needed. And toss in a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of vanilla extract for extra flavor.

    Storage. Store the sauce in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for 5 days. Do not freeze as condensation ruins the sauce.

    steps to make chocolate sauce recipe

    Recipe Tips

    1. Be sure the bowl and spoon you use to make the chocolate sauce are dry. Any residual water will turn the sauce grainy and into a seize. If this happens, microwave at 15 second intervals and stir.

    2. If using canned coconut milk, be sure the can has been shaken so the fat and milks are not separated. If you open the can and see the fat has separated from the milk, set the can in a pot of boiling water and stir until the fat has melted and milk is combined.

    3. The sauce can be warmed before serving. Microwave it at 15 second intervals until it is as warm as you want before serving.
    overhead of a chocolate sauce recipe

    How to Use

    I use this chocolate sauce as a drizzle for ice cream and on brownies, as a dip for cookies, as a filling for other cookies, and as a dip for fruits.
    a jar of chocolate sauce with a spoon dropping

    Variations

    The best way to flavor this sauce is without water-based options because water may seize the chocolate or make it grainy. That means using extracts.

    Orange extract will create orange chocolate sauce.

    Mint extract will create mint chocolate sauce.

    Another option is to stir in instant coffee granules, to create a mocha chocolate sauce.

    FAQS

    Can this chocolate sauce be frozen?

    Do not freeze this chocolate sauce as the chemical reaction to cold creates condensation which crystalizes and turns the sauce chunky.

    What is chocolate sauce made of?

    Homemade chocolate sauce is made of cocoa, maple syrup and milk. The higher the fat in the milk, the thicker your sauce.

    Is chocolate sauce the same as chocolate syrup?

    No, chocolate sauce is made with milk and stirred, whereas chocolate syrup is made with water and simmered to create a chemical reaction that produces a thicker, glossy texture.

    What or how can I make chocolate syrup freeze on ice cream?

    It's easy, just make a magic shell with this sauce and coconut oil. Here is my detailed recipe for healthy magic shell.

    chocolate sauce in a jar with a spoon

    Ice Cream & Sauce Recipes

    • Healthy Magic Shell
    • Dairy-free Chocolate Ice Cream
    • Cherry Ice Cream
    • Sweet Potato Ice Cream

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    Overhead view of healthy homemade chocolate sauce on a marble board.

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    📖 Recipe

    chocolate sauce dripping down a jar of vanilla ice cream

    Chocolate Sauce Recipe (3-Ingredients)

    Created by Dee Dine
    Rich and healthier chocolate sauce recipe that you can make with 3 ingredients in 3 minutes, is refined sugar free, and can be drizzled on ice cream or brownies, and used as a dip for fruit and cookies.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved! Rate Recipe
    Prep Time 1 minute min
    Cook Time 2 minutes mins
    Total Time 3 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 39 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 tablespoon cocoa powder
    • 2 tablespoon maple syrup
    • 3 tablespoon milk higher the fat, thicker the sauce
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    Make Sauce

    • Put all ingredients - except half the maple syrup - in a bowl, and whisk or hand-mix until smooth. Taste and decide if you need to add the rest of the maple syrup for flavor. And toss in a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of vanilla extract for extra flavor.
      3 tablespoon cocoa powder, 2 tablespoon maple syrup, 3 tablespoon milk

    Optional Customizations:

    • For Mocha Chocolate Sauce: Add 1 teaspoon granular instant coffee
    • For Orange/Ginger Chocolate Sauce: Add ½ teaspoon orange extract and a pinch of ground ginger
    • Chocolate Mint Sauce: Add ½ teaspoon peppermint extract

    Storage

    • Store the sauce in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for 5 days. Do not freeze as condensation ruins the sauce.

    Video

    Notes

    1. Be sure the bowl and spoon you use to make the chocolate sauce are dry. Any residual water will turn the sauce grainy and into a seize. If this happens, microwave at 15 second intervals and stir.
    2. If using canned coconut milk, be sure the can has been shaken so the fat and milks are not separated. If you open the can and see the fat has separated from the milk, set the can in a pot of boiling water and stir until the fat has melted and milk is combined.
    3. The sauce can be warmed before serving. Microwave it at 15 second intervals until it is as warm as you want before serving.
    4. Make a thicker sauce. To make a thicker sauce, more akin to fudge sauce, heat milk in the microwave, about 30 seconds, until steamy. Then mix a tablespoon of milk with a tablespoon of cornstarch or arrowroot. Stir until creamy. Warm your chocolate sauce, again in the microwave about 15 seconds, and add this mixture to it. Stir until combined.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 39kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.02gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 0.3mgSodium: 6mgPotassium: 98mgFiber: 1gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 23IUCalcium: 31mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    About Dee

    Hey! I'm Dee Dine, and on my blog, I share healthy recipes with wholesome ingredients. I'm also a chocolate and ginger enthusiast, animal lover, an avid blender juicer, and am probably making no bake brownies in my Washington DC kitchen right now. Read about me → »

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    jar of chocolate sauce with a spoon and a measuring cup
    dee dine

    I'm Dee! Welcome to GSG! Eating healthier and lighter, with plenty of fruits and veggies, can be delicious, especially when chocolate and desserts are involved. Here you'll find wholesome recipes that everyone will love. About Dee →

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